Outclassed, outplayed!

Sir Alex Ferguson saluted Barcelona as one of the greatest teams the game has ever seen and the Manchester United manager conceded: 'No one has given us a hiding like that.'

Ferguson saw his side torn apart 3-1 at Wembley as the Catalan club, inspired by the brilliant Lionel Messi, won their fourth European Cup - and third in the past six years.

'We were well beaten by a fantastic team, there's no other way to describe it,' said Ferguson, who has managed United since 1986 and was hoping to lift the European Cup for a third time.

'The best team we have ever played. I expected us to do better but we have to acknowledge we were beaten by a better team. No one has given us a hiding like that.'